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Page 132.—;$l£S£>?£>.
The subjoined extracts from the Northumberland Household Book, show thatthe viands were not indiscriminately shared when it was the custom for high andlow to mingle at their meals.
“ Item, It is devised that from henceforthe no CapottneS to be boughte butoonlie for my lord’s owne mees; ande that the same capons schal be boughte for ijd.a-pece, leyne and fedd in the pultrye; ande the maister cbambrelyn and the stewardebe servidde with capounnes if there be straungeres sitting with theme.”
“ Item, It is thoughte goode that CffljdunS be boughte for my lord’s owne measonely, ande maister chamberleyne ande the stewarde’s meas, so that they be at an oba-pece.”
“ Item, It is thoughte good pJentUS be boughte from Cristynmas to Shroftide, sothey be good, and at ijd. a-pece; ande my lorde maister chamberleyne and thesteward’s meas to be syrved with theme, and noon outher.”
“ Item, It is thoughte goode to by ^thgtons for my lord’s meas, maisterchambreleyne, and the stewarde’s meas, so they be boughte after iij. for a penny.
Page 137.—“ Orders for household servantes, first devised by Shlllt&arjmgt01I, in the year 1566; and renewed by John Haryngton hissonne, in 1592 : the saide 3oI)lt the sonne being High Shrieve of thecounty of Somerset.-
Imprimis, That no servant be absent from praier, at morning or evening, withoutlawfull excuse, to be alledged within one day after, vpon paine to forfeit for everytime 2d.
ii. Item, That none swear any othe, vppon paine for every othe Id.
iii. Item, That no man leave any door open that he findeth shut, vppon paine forevery tyme Id.
iv. Item, That none of the men be in bed, from our Lady-day to Michaelmas,after 6 o’clock in the morning, nor out of bed after 10 o’clock at night; nor fromMichaelmas till our Lady-day, in bed after 7 in the morning, nor out after 9 atnight, without reasonable cause, on paine of 2d.
v. That no man’s bed bee vnmade, nor fire or candle box vncleane, after 8 o’clockin the morning, on paine of Id.
vi. Item, directs that no nuisance shall be committed ‘ in either of the courts,vppon paine of every time it shall be proved, Id.’